For the third straight season, the Brumbies’ Super Rugby campaign has come to a miserable end in the semi-finals across the ditch.
Two years after being edged 20-19 at Eden Park, the Blues did it again at the same venue by winning 34-20.
The defeat came off the back of conceding four tries inside 20 minutes.
While New Zealand referee James Doleman made several perplexing decisions, the Brumbies were their own worst enemies by making simple errors.
The Brumbies struggled from the kick restart all evening, while their set-piece, especially their scrum, was taught a lesson.
It didn’t help that Test prop James Slipper, who missed the quarterfinal with a calf strain, pulled up lame in the warmup and was replaced in the team by Rhys van Nek.
“We’ve shown throughout the whole year that we have that fight, but it’s a tough lesson for us in finals, especially against the Blues at their home stadium, you give them that lead early on in the game and it’s a tough lesson for us,” captain Allan Alaalatoa said.
Sam Darry was one of four Blues players to score inside the opening 20 minutes against the Brumbies at Eden Park on June 14, 2024. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
The result continued Australian rugby’s hoodoo across the ditch in Super Rugby finals, with their winless run now extending to 18 matches since the competition started in 1996. No wonder why Stephen Larkham was left frustrated that his side couldn’t secure a top two spot.
Perhaps that explained the pitiful crowd at Eden Park, too. After all, history said the Brumbies were no chance.
Those staying at home looked like making the right decision midway through the opening half as the Brumbies couldn’t catch a cold.
Force-bound lock Darcy Swain was targeted from the kick restart and the Wallaby’s couple of blunders put the Brumbies on the backfoot.
The Blues didn’t need a second invitation as AJ Lam, Ricky Riccitelli, Sam Darry and Caleb Clarke each scored in the opening 20 minutes.
Rob Valetini reacts following the Super Rugby Pacific semi-final at Eden Park in Auckland. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
The boot of Noah Lolesio kept the visitors in the game early, with the favourite to wear the Wallabies No.10 jersey slotting over two early penalties, but poor exit play allowed the Blues to open up a 24-6 lead.
Rob Valetini gave the visitors some hope as he powered his way to the line after 35 minutes, but a long-range penalty to Harry Plummer saw the Blues take a 27-13 lead into half-time.
Needing to score first, the Brumbies had all the territory in the opening 15 minutes after half-time but couldn’t turn pressure into points as the Blues’ goal-line defence stood tall and the visitors’ set-piece faltered.
Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard came closest when he claimed a try only to have it correctly ruled out for a double movement.
Hoskins Sotutu then put the result beyond doubt by bursting onto a ripped away ball close to the Brumbies line to score.
Although Luke Reimer hit back and Lolesio’s trusty boot reduced the score to two converted tries, another blunder from the kick restart – Nick Frost was shown a yellow card for making high contact in the air on Clarke – killed off any chance of making a late comeback.
The disappointing loss once again put the focus on why the Brumbies are always the bridesmaids and never the bride.
“I don’t think it’s anything I can’t think of as a common theme over the last couple years,” halfback and vice-captain Ryan Lonergan said.
“We’ve had a super strong set piece the last two years and it wasn’t so much our go-to strength this year.
“We changed to more of a counter-attack and off-the-cuff style of play. That turned to our strength and I think we’ve just got to combine the two.
“We were super-structured the previous two years with a super strong set piece and we probably missed that a little bit this year.”
Indeed, they did and Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will be nervous about his tight-five options in 2024.
After all, without a functioning one in the Test arena, you’ll never be a top-tier side.
